Bud Burruss already knows exactly where he wants to be when Grand Theft Auto VI arrives.
Not at a party. Not traveling. Not taking a traditional holiday break.
The 36-year-old software engineer and father of three plans to spend five days focused on Rockstar’s long-awaited game, using vacation time around the Nov. 19 release to play from his home gaming setup.
Burruss told The Wall Street Journal that he plans to put the rest of the world on hold for the launch window. He said he will not be playing “20 hours straight like an absentee father,” but added, “right out of the gate we’re going hard.”
He said his wife has known about the plan for more than a year. His schedule reportedly involves getting his children to bed, waking around 1 or 2 a.m. when the game launches, and starting his play session while also capturing content for his GTA-focused YouTube channel.
That explanation did not stop people online from arguing over whether the plan sounds like a harmless hobby or a sign that adulthood has gone too far.
One X user described it as “bleak,” writing that a “36yo father of three” was planning to lock himself in his “cave” for several days before Thanksgiving. The commenter said many people lose their “childish inclinations” after becoming parents.
Another person pushed back, saying the criticism missed the bigger picture.
“man, let people have fun,” the user wrote. “If he wants to take a few days off to do something he enjoys, who cares? for all you know he’s number 1 dad the other 363 days of the year.”
The reaction quickly moved beyond gaming. People were debating what hobbies are considered acceptable once someone becomes a parent.
Gta VI Isn’t Just Another Game Release
Bleak stuff here, 36yo father of three planning to take off work and lock himself in his “cave” to play video games for several days before Thanksgiving. I remember many of my childish inclinations evaporating overnight when I became a father, guess it didn’t happen to this guy. pic.twitter.com/wn7jVMlP7m
— slimzim (@jameszimmermann) September 2, 2026
Part of the reason Burruss’ plan attracted attention is because Grand Theft Auto VI has become one of the biggest entertainment events on the horizon.
The game arrives 13 years after Grand Theft Auto V, a title that became one of the most successful entertainment products ever released. GTA V has sold around 230 million copies, while the franchise overall has moved roughly 475 million units worldwide.
Fans have been preparing for the sequel like a major cultural event. Some players have reportedly been saving vacation days specifically for the release, treating the launch date almost like an unofficial holiday.
Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, has called demand for GTA VI “unprecedented,” although the company has not released an official preorder total. Outside estimates suggest about $260 million in early preorder spending globally, showing the level of anticipation around the game.
For many fans, the excitement comes from the unusually long wait. A new numbered Grand Theft Auto game is not something players get every year.
Some People Say Gaming Is Being Judged Differently
Several commenters argued that Burruss’ plan would probably attract less criticism if the hobby looked different.
“Not something I’d post online…but if he disappeared for three days to fish or play golf or hunt would he still be getting criticism?” one user wrote.
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Another compared gaming with sports, arguing that taking time off for a major sporting event would likely receive a different reaction.
“Personally I think playing video games is less of a waste of time than watching sports,” the commenter wrote, adding that a March Madness viewing plan would probably be considered more socially acceptable.
The defense is partly based on how common gaming has become among adults.
The Entertainment Software Association says the average U.S. gamer is 37 years old, while more than 212 million Americans play video games.
Burruss is unusual because of the five-day launch plan, not because he plays games.
Related: Having a Dad with Any of These 6 Hobbies Means You Were Likely Raised by a Great Man
The Parenting Debate Is Where Opinions Split
Not something I’d post online…but if he disappeared for three days to fish or play golf or hunt would he still be getting criticism?
— GREG SMITH (@603greg) September 2, 2026
The criticism was not really about a father owning a console.
It was about what happens when one parent steps away for several days.
One commenter warned that behavior like this could create bigger relationship problems.
“Stuff like this is a prelude to ‘the divorce came out of nowhere, what happened?’” the user wrote. “Dunno, she realized she was married to a child?”
Supporters saw it differently. They pointed out that Burruss planned the time away in advance and that his wife knew about it long before the release date.
“Dude seems like he built a good life and relationships that lets him carve out time for something he enjoys,” another commenter wrote.
That argument reflects a broader issue many families face: whether personal hobbies are viewed as healthy breaks or selfish escapes often depends on how responsibilities are handled before and after.
A fishing trip, golf weekend, concert trip, or gaming marathon can raise the same question in a household: does everyone get the same chance to have uninterrupted time for themselves?
Wait so dads aren’t suppose to have hobbies? What’s the issue here? GTA? Dad taking some time to himeself? Or?
— MoundLore (@MoundLore) September 2, 2026
A Gaming “Cave” Became the Detail People Noticed
One detail from Burruss’ plan became especially memorable: his idea of retreating to his home “cave” for the launch.
For some fans, that sounded like the perfect setup for a once-in-a-decade gaming release.
For critics, it created an image of someone shutting the door while family life continues outside.
The debate may continue until GTA VI finally arrives, but Burruss’ plan has already become part of a bigger conversation about adult hobbies, parenting, and whether people are allowed to protect time for the things they love.
Do you think taking five days off for a game like GTA VI is a reasonable hobby break, or does it cross a line for a parent of three?
